OwnVouch blog

Buy, sell and keep devices without the guesswork.

Plain guides to the problems people actually run into with second-hand phones, laptops and gadgets: locked devices, stolen phones, scams, lost bills and insurance claims. Every guide lists its sources.

Buying used

Checks to do before you pay for a second-hand phone, laptop or gadget.

7 min read How to check if a second-hand phone is stolen in India, and what the result really tells you
Run the free Sanchar Saathi KYM check on a used phone's IMEI before you pay, learn what each result means, and why a clean result still isn't proof.
6 min read Does the warranty transfer when you buy a used phone?
Does warranty or AppleCare transfer when you buy a used iPhone or Samsung in India? What official terms say, what doesn't carry over and what to ask the seller.
7 min read Where to Find the Serial Number or IMEI on Your Phone, Laptop, Console or Camera
Find the serial number or IMEI on an iPhone, Android, iPad, Mac, Windows laptop, PS5, Xbox, Switch or camera, with official steps and the *#06# shortcut.
7 min read Bought a Used iPhone That Says “iPhone Locked to Owner”? What You Can and Can’t Do
Bought a used iPhone showing iPhone Locked to Owner? What Apple needs to remove Activation Lock, what to ask the seller, and your options if they vanish.
5 min read "Unknown Part" on a used or refurbished iPhone: what it means and what to ask
Seeing Unknown Part in an iPhone's Parts and Service History? What each label means, how it affects the phone, and what to ask a refurbisher before you pay.
7 min read Used Android Phone Asking for the Previous Owner’s Google Account? Factory Reset Protection Explained
Used Android phone asking for the previous owner's Google account after reset? Why FRP happens, what really fixes it, Xiaomi locks, and how to check first.
7 min read The Used iPhone Checklist: What to Check Before You Pay
A used iPhone checklist for India: Activation Lock, IMEI match, Sanchar Saathi KYM, parts history, battery and carrier lock. Do these before handing over cash.
7 min read Used MacBook Shows “Remote Management” or Windows Wants a Work Account? Only the Organisation Can Release It
Used MacBook shows Remote Management or a Windows laptop wants a company login? Why a reset won't fix it, who can release it, and how to check before buying.
7 min read Buying from a used-phone shop in India: the IMEI check rule, and how to vet the shop yourself
Since October 2025, used-phone dealers in India must check IMEIs against a government database. What the rule says, what's unclear, and how to vet a shop.

Lost & stolen

What to do when a device goes missing, and what happens next.

6 min read FIR vs Lost Report for a Stolen Phone: The Difference and Why It Matters
FIR vs lost report for a stolen phone in India: what each means, which CEIR and insurers accept, and what the law lets you do if police won't register an FIR.
6 min read Phone insurance claim rejected? Why it happens and the documents to keep ready
Why phone insurance claims get rejected in India, the documents insurers usually want (invoice, IMEI, FIR) and how to escalate to Bima Bharosa or the Ombudsman.
7 min read Phone Lost or Stolen in India: What to Do in the First Hour
Phone stolen in India? A first-hour checklist: lock it, get a replacement SIM, secure UPI, file a police complaint and block it on CEIR, in the right order.
7 min read Your second-hand phone was blocked or police traced it to you: what happens next and what to do
Your used phone stopped working or police called about it? Why CEIR blocks and traces phones, what the law says, and the documents to gather right now.

Scams

How buyers and sellers get caught out, and the red flags to watch for.

7 min read Too-cheap iPhones on Instagram, OLX and WhatsApp: the scams and how to buy safely
Too-cheap iPhones on Instagram, OLX and WhatsApp usually mean advance-fee scams, replicas or a locked phone. The checks to do before you pay a single rupee.
6 min read Is the seller's bill real? How to check a GST invoice for a second-hand phone
Is the seller's phone bill real? Look up the GSTIN on the GST portal, match the IMEI to the phone, and spot the red flags of fake bills before you pay.
6 min read "We Found Your iPhone": The Phishing Scam That Follows a Theft
Got a "we found your iPhone" text after a theft? It's phishing to remove Activation Lock. How the scam works, what Apple says, and what to do if you clicked.
8 min read The OLX "army officer" QR code scam: how it works and how to sell safely
A buyer says he is in the Army, can't meet and sends a QR code so you can receive money. How the OLX scam works, the red flags and what to do if you paid.

Selling & ownership

Selling safely, proving a device is yours, and keeping the paperwork straight.

8 min read Before you sell your iPhone, Android phone or Mac: the checklist that stops the buyer getting locked out
Sign out, remove Find My or your Google account, erase, take out the SIM and keep proof of sale, so the buyer isn't locked out and your data doesn't go with it.
7 min read Lost the bill? How to prove a phone or laptop is yours
Lost the bill for your phone or laptop? How to get a duplicate invoice, what evidence Apple, Samsung and insurers accept, and what usually gets turned down.
7 min read Selling a used phone privately: the receipt, the handover and the "refund me" message
Selling a used phone privately? What a sale receipt should include, how to meet and confirm payment safely, and how to handle a buyer who wants a refund later.